Pattaya to the rescue

Sawang Boriboon rescue workers from Pattaya, using a new boat supplied by Securitas Thailand, rescue a family trapped on the roof of their home in Ayuthaya. As the disaster continues to worsen, more aid is needed for families like this, and groups of kind hearted people in Pattaya are answering the call.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome last Friday told the Pattaya Relief Group committee that relief efforts by the people of Pattaya through City Hall have grown to a very large scale since the flood crisis erupted. “We have made many trips by boat to the badly affected areas and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation volunteers are busy distributing relief packages in Pathum Thani which is now bearing the brunt of the massive deluge.”

The mayor met with the committee on October 21 so that the group, led by Steve Graham, MD of Securitas Thailand and Gudmund Eiksund, president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, along with Peter Malhotra, MD of the Pattaya Mail Media Group could update him on their effort to raise funds for immediate and long term relief efforts for the flood victims in Thailand.

Sawang Boriboon rescue workers from Pattaya, using a new boat supplied by Securitas Thailand, rescue a family trapped on the roof of their home in Ayuthaya. As the disaster continues to worsen, more aid is needed for families like this, and groups of kind hearted people in Pattaya are answering the call.

The mayor agreed that a lot of aid will be needed to help put the people back on their feet after the floods subside and the extent of the damage could be clearly seen. This is also the plan of the Pattaya Relief Group. President Gudmund said, “Thousands of people have lost their homes and businesses, and many have lost their livelihoods. We will try to help these unfortunate people pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives again.”

The next day at the invitation of Bert Elson, secretary of the Royal British Legion, members of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya gathered at Tropical Bert’s to receive a truck load of relief packages that had been donated by members of the Legion and their families and friends. Bert said, “Members of the Royal British Legion Thailand recently decided to try and help those in need in parts of Thailand that are flooded. Whilst we of course cannot use legion funds, as members there was nothing to stop us using our own funds to help. I decided to send out e-mails to all our members asking for donations and was soon taken aback with the deluge of positive responses.”

(L to R) Gudmund Eiksund, president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, and Peter Malhotra, MD of the Pattaya Mail Media Group work with Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome on ways to help flood victims in Central Thailand.

The packages were loaded onto a Securitas van that hauled them off for safekeeping. A caravan left Pattaya last Tuesday to bring the massive loads of aid packages to the people in the north.

Bert continued, “We have members all over the world and received pledges not just from our members here in Thailand but the United Kingdom, Brazil, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Vietnam. Within a few days we had more than 40,000 baht’s worth of food aid lying on Tropical Bert’s Bar! Getting the goods was a feat in itself and took members three shopping trips to the major department stores in town. Donations were made not only by Legion members as we also received a generous donation of 15,000 baht from Lodge Pattaya West Winds, for which we are very grateful.

Sawang Boriboon Foundation rescue workers from Pattaya prepare to set out on a rescue mission in Ayuthaya in a Securitas Thailand rescue boat.

“Our next concern was how to ensure that the relief packages would be distributed correctly, so we turned to the Pattaya Relief Group for assistance. With the help of Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and Securitas Thailand we are assured that the goods will be delivered directly into the hands of the needy.

“We sincerely thank all those who donated and helped with our extra large shopping list.”